Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/44—Valves specially adapted therefor; Regulating devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
  • B65D83/14—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant
  • B65D83/16—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means
  • B65D83/20—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for delivery of liquid or semi-liquid contents by internal gaseous pressure, i.e. aerosol containers comprising propellant for a product delivered by a propellant characterised by the actuating means operated by manual action, e.g. button-type actuator or actuator caps
  • B65D83/201—Lever-operated actuators

Definitions

• This invention relates to an actuator arrangement for the valve of an aerosol pack.
• aerosol pack is used herein to denote a container in which is a material to be dis ⁇ claimedd ("the product") by means of a propellant, either of a true aerosol type in which the product is in admixture with or in solution in the propellant, or of the type where these two are separated by a membrane, diaphragm or piston.
• the invention is particularly but not exclusively applicable to aerosol packs for dispensing viscous or semi-solid material such as mastic or silicone rubber.
• an aerosol pack (as defined above) comprising a body for containing the product and propellant; an outlet valve member slidably movable in the body between closed and open positions; and an actuator having one end fixed with respect to the body, another end forming a handle, and an intermediate portion engaged with the valve member.
• Fig. 1. is a longitudinal cross-section through the upper part of an aerosol pack in accordance with the invention
• Fig. 2. is a sid-e view of a lock member of Fig.l
• Fig 3 is a plan view of the lock member of Fig 2;
• Fig 4 is a side view of a clip of Fig 1;
• Fig 5 is a plan view of the clip of- Fig 4;
• Fig 6 is a side view corresponding to Fig 1 ;
• Fig 7 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a modified and
• Fig 8 is a perspective view of an actuator for use in the above embodiments.
• the pack comprises a ca m body 10 having a cylindrical side wall 12 and integral top 14 formed from aluminium by deep drawing.
• the central part of the top 14 is formed as a boss 16 of generally cylindrical form.
• a valve member 18 is slidably seated in the boss.16 and forms a seal therewith by means of 0-ring 20.
• the valve member 18 has a flanged base 22 which is normally seated by theinternal propellant pressure against the top 14 to close the pack. Downward movement of the valve member 18 against the internal pressure allows the product to exit via apertures one of which is seen at 24.
• a tapered nozzle 26 is threadedly engaged with the upper end of the valve member 18.
• a lock member 28 is in threaded engagement with the exterior of the valve member 18 in the position shown in Fig 1, the lock member 28 engages the top 14 and prevents actuation of the valve. To dispense the product, the lock member is screwed up the valve member 18, as will be discussed in more detail below, and the valve member can then be depressed to dispense the product.
• a clip 30 formed from spring steel is positioned between the lock member 28 and the can top 14.
• the clip 30 (see also Figs 4 and 5) comprises teeth 32 engaging the boss 16, a pair of bent-over fulcrum portion 34, and an upwardly-extending stop portion 36.
• An actuator 38 (see also Figs 6 and 8) is provided in the form of a wire shaped to provide a handle portion 40, a pair of curved cam portions 42, and a pair of free ends 44. The ends 44 are engaged under the fulcrum portions 34 of the clip 30 and the cam portions 42 lie within a groove 46 on the lock member to bear on a flange 48 thereof.
• the lock member is screwed upwardly by an amount depending on the rate of discharge desired.
• a maximum limit to this movement is set by the stop portion 36 of the clip 30 engaging one of a number of shoulders 50 (Fig. 2 and 3) formed around the circumference of the lock member 28.
• the arrangement is such that the maximum travel of the valve member retains the 0-ring 20 within the boss 16.
• the groove 46 in lock member 28 is provided with protrusions 52, and the actuator 38 is dimensioned such that the cam portions 42 exert a gripping force on the lock member 28; this produces a "click" effect which gives the user an indication of the degree of rotation achieved.
• Rotation of the lock member 28 and its corresponding move ⁇ ment away from the can top 14 causes the handle portion 40 to swing out from the side wall 12, as seen in Fig.6.
• the pack may then be held in one hand with the fingers on the handle portion
• the actuator 38 acts as a lever giving a mechanical advantage and thus makes operation of the pack easier and less fatiguing.
• the cam portions 42 are preferably shaped such that the point of engagement with the flange 48 is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the can when the valve is open. This gives optimum mechanical advantage and minimises any tendency of the valve to stick in its travel.
• the parts it is preferred to assemble the parts by positioning the clip 30 on the boss 16 and then forcing the clip downward by screwing the lock member 28 home.
• the upper part of the external surface of the boss 16 is tapered, as seen in Fig 1, which permits the clip to be placed at an angle on the boss 16.
• the under surface of the flange 48 is cut away at 48b (Fig 1) to provide.an. annular,surface bearing on the clip 30 while clearing the teeth 32; this allows the stop member 28 to be screwed down to force the clip home, as described above.
• the stop portion 36 in the embodiment shown is formed such that it will snap over the flange 48 during this operation.
• stop portion without a rolled-over top: by using the angled placement of clip 30 referred to above, the stop portion is rotated to a position above flange 48 without engaging it. In this case the chamfer 48a on the flange shown can be dispensed with.
• Preferred applications of the pack are in the dispensing of silicone compounds and other curable compounds, for which polypropylene is the preferred material for the valve member, as the product will not cure to it. It has been found that with a polypropylene valve member, a lock member of the same material will not rotate freely, and high-density polythylene is a suitable material for the lock member.
• Fig 7 shows a modified form of embodiment in which the clip 30 is omitted.
• the junction between the side wall 12 and top 14 of the cam is formed to provide an upstanding rim 70 and inturned flange 72, and the actuator 38 has its free ends formed as hooked portions 44' hooked under the flange 72.
• the use of shaped wire for the actuator is preferred for ease of assembly.
• the handle portion may be provided with a soft plastics cover or sleeve 50 (Fig 8).
• actuators of other materials and shapes may be used within the scope of the present invention.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Fluid-Driven Valves (AREA)

Priority Applications (7)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26289893

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (36)

Citations (4)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1986
  • 1986-10-08 DE DE8686905907T patent/DE3665560D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1986-10-08 US US07/046,877 patent/US4826054A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-10-08 AU AU64766/86A patent/AU593032B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1986-10-08 EP EP86905907A patent/EP0243393B1/en not_active Expired
  • 1986-10-08 WO PCT/GB1986/000608 patent/WO1987002335A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1986-10-08 BR BR8606925A patent/BR8606925A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1986-10-08 JP JP61505405A patent/JPH0794268B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1986-10-14 CA CA000520420A patent/CA1327781C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1986-10-15 IE IE272486A patent/IE59357B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1987
  • 1987-04-30 DK DK221187A patent/DK155992C/da not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1987-05-06 FI FI872014A patent/FI83754C/fi active IP Right Grant

Patent Citations (4)

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